Pittman developing into a gem

The Buckeyes' sophomore running back is averaging 110 yards rushing a game.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- With each passing week, Antonio Pittman is running farther and farther away from being an ordinary back.
Heading into Saturday's game against Illinois, the tailback for No. 12 Ohio State needs just 118 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He's well aware of how close he is.
"That was something I had in mind at the beginning of the year," the sophomore said.
"But as I get closer to it it's more like, try not to think about it, just go out and play your game and run like you've been running and it'll come to you."
No one is pulling for him -- literally -- to reach 1,000 yards more than his offensive line.
"He kept fighting all year and he had a big payday at Minnesota," left guard Rob Sims said.
Big change
Just three weeks ago, many had grave questions about whether Pittman might get halfway to a four-figure rushing total. He had gained just 58 yards on 15 carries in a 17-10 loss to Penn State that dropped the Buckeyes to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten.
Coming off a dismal 2004 in which Lydell Ross led the Buckeyes with just 475 yards, there was a lot of grumbling by fans that, of all things, the Buckeyes had forgotten how to run the ball.
Since then, however, Ohio State has rolled to three wins -- and Pittman has played an increasingly large role.
He rambled for 101 yards on 18 carries in a 35-24 win against Michigan State, then went for 133 yards on 26 carries in a 41-10 win at Indiana. He saved his best for the Metrodome, however, piling up personal-best yardage while scoring on runs of 42 and 4 yards.
His teammates had joked that maybe he should practice a touchdown dance, just in case he had forgotten what it was like to score. When he finally did make it to the end zone, he didn't break out into any dance moves, throat slashes or organize some group choreography. He flipped the ball to the official and celebrated with the rest of the Buckeyes.
"He's going to grow into being an outstanding Big Ten tailback," coach Jim Tressel said.
"Antonio Pittman, I think, has progressed just exactly as we hoped."
Pittman is averaging 110 yards rushing per game -- fourth best in the Big Ten and the 16th-highest output in the nation.
And he's not done yet, he said.
"I want to put on a show every week," he said.